Collapsible box or crate



June 30, 1925. 1,543,923

V. T. HUNTER COLLAPSIBLE BOX 0R CRATE Filed April 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 30, 1925.

V. T. HUNTER CCLLAPSIBLE BOX 0R CRATE Filed April 8, 192; 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 To all whom it may co ce ence refer to the same parts.

Patented June 30, 1925.

1 UNITED ST TES...

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Conner-sierra BOX on onarn.

Applica ion {nee April's;

Be it known that'I, Vro'ron THoMAs HUNTER, mechanic, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing in Bradford, in the county of Simone, Province of Ontario,- Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Bones or Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible boxes or crates, adapted to be used in shipping merchandise, or poultry, and the ob ect of the invention is to provide an economical and simple construction which will provide the necessary strength and rigidity when set up for use, and,whic'h may be readily knocked down or collapsed to occupy small space for re-shipment or storage. 7 I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my box or crate as it appears when in use.-

2 is a side elevation of the box .or crate partly opened, and Fig. 3 isa plan view thereof when partly folded. A Fig. 4' is a: side eleva tion of the box or crate completely folded.

In the drawings, like characters of refer- The structure embraces bottom top frames A and B' and end frames and D; l hese frames each embrace. pair oflong itudinal members 2, coupled together by any suitable means. In the preferred construc= t-ion thesaid frames are of,,.open work,

.though they may be closed.- The members 2 of the frames B, C and D are tied tofget her by the cross pieces 3 anda, and are provided with slats 5 diagonally disposed to form braces. The lower ends of the longitudinal members 2 of theend frames C and D overlap the sides of the longitudinal members 2 ofthe top and bottom frames B and A, and therefore the end frame C is wider than the bottom frame A, and the end frame D wider than the top frame B.

The cross pieces and slats connecting the longitudinal members 2 of the end frames C and D are connected to the narrower sides of said longitudinal members, and project beyond said narrower sides, and this is for the purpose of permitting the top frame B to be housed within the end frame D, and the end frame C to fold snugly over the bottom frame A.-

The upper ends of the longitudinal memhere 2 of the frames C and D overlap the longitudinal members 2 of the upper frame 1924. Serial 1%. 764,923.

. B, and passing through the upper ends of the longitudinal members 2 of the frames C and D and the adjacent outer ends of the members 2 of the upper frame B are tic rods 6 and 7 respectively. The tie rod 6 is 1 adapted to be removed to permit the structure to be opened orcollapsed, whereas the tie rod 7 is adapted to be permanently held in place and to act as ahinge. Also passing through the lower ends of the members 2 of the frameC, and through the adjacent outer ends of the members 2 of the frame A is a tie rod 8, which is adapted to be permanently located, and to act as a hinge.

The end frame D is coupled by hinges 10 through the medium of 'its cross piece'g to the bottom frame A through the medium of the cross piece 11 thereof. ,1 v

12 and 13 are diagonal braces located, in pairs at each side of the structure.- The lower ends of the braces 12 are mounted on the tie rod 8 near the outer ends thereof, and the lower ends of the braces 13 are mounted on the bolts 9 which bolts are held in the lower ends of the members 2 of the end frame D. Also mounted on" the ends of the tie rod 8 and beyond each sideof the members 2 of the frame C are spacing. devices 14:, preferably in the form of rubber rings. These spacing devices aresub s'tantially of the same thickness as the braces 13 so that when the structure is collapsed fully as the desired position;

The upper end of each brace 12 is slotted as shown at 15 so as to, permit these braces to be detachably coupled to the tie rod 7 at each end thereof when the structure set. up. The tie rod 6 passes through the outer ends of the braces 13 when the struc ture is set up.

The braces 12 are longitudinally slotted as shown at 16, and through these slots extend rivets or bolts 17 held in the braces 13. As the structure is opened by first removing the tie rod 6, the braces 12 may be disengaged from the tie rod 7 by manipulating the braces 13. These braces 12 may also be raised into position by reason of the coaction therewith of the braces 13, when it is desired to set the structure up.

The upper frame B is adapted to fold within the end frame D, and the end frame C is adapted to fold over the bottom'frame A (see Fig. The frames B and D are then moved on the hinges 10 to be placed lapsed.

' members 2 of the bottom frame A are also coupled together adjacent the tiered 8 by cross piece 5, and said longitudinal members are suitably braced as shown at 0.

hat Iclaim isq' a 1. A structure of the class described comprising a bottom frame; a first end frame hinged at its lower end to one'end of said bottom frame to straddle same; a second end frame hinged to the other end of said bottom frame tostraddle same, and adapted to fold over said bottom frame; a top frame hinged at one end to the upper end. of said first-mentioned end frame and within the same; a first brace at each side of said structure each hinged at its lower end to the hinging means for said second-mew tioned end frame, each brace adapted to be removably coupled to the hinging means coupling said top frame to said first-mentioned end frame; a second brace located at each side of said structure; means pivoting the lower end of each of said second-mentioned brace to the lower end of said firstmentioned end frame; means adapted to couple each pair of braces together to permit of the manipulation of said first-mentioned braces through, the medium of said second-mentioned braces, and a coupling device passing through the upper end of each of the said second-mentioned braces and through the overlapping ends of said second-mentioned end frame and said top frame.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a bottom frame; a first end frame hin ed at its lower end to one end of said bottom frame to straddle same; a second end frame hinged to the other end of said bottom frame to straddle same, and adapted to fold over said bottom frame; a top frame hinged at one end to the upper end of said first-mentioned end frame and with in the same; a longitudinallyslotted brace at each side of said structure each hinged said second-mentioned braces and through the overlapping ends of said secondmentioned end frame and said top frame.

A structure of the class described comprising a bottom frame; a first end frame hinged at one end to one end of said frame and adapted to fold over the same; a second end frame hinged at one end to the other end of said bottom frame and adaptv ed to be folded thereunder; a top frame hinged at one end to the upper end of said second-mentioned end frame and adapted to fold within said second-mentioned end frame; diagonally disposed braces located in pairs at each side of said structure and co-operatively associated therewith to give rigidity to said structure when set up, and 7 means coupling the upper end of said first mentioned end frame to the associated end of said top frame, and binding certain of said diagonal braces in place.

vro'ron THOMAS HUNTER. 

